PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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THE FIRE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, 1878
While the fire at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, in December 1862 was quite small, the one on June 13th 1878 completely destroyed the great iron roof and the interior of the building. The Theatre had been crowded that evening but the performance finished a little early, at just before 11pm. Just after 11pm Mr Albert Newcombe and Mr Eldred left the Theatre and were on their way to the newspaper offices to place adverts for the following evening's performance. They stopped to visit a friend for a few minutes and upon leaving his house immediately smelled smoke. To their alarm this was pouring from the upper windows of the front of Theatre. Within minutes fire engines and men from the West of England, Borough and military fire brigades were on the scene along with detachments of soldiers from the Royal Citadel and sailors. They were joined by many others during the night. The Mayor of Plymouth, Mr J Wills, and Police Superintendent Wreyford and his men were also soon in attendance, as was Mr J R Newcombe. The Mayor asked Mr Pearse to evacuate the Royal Hotel but he refused. There was still no sign of actual fire and the actors managed to rescue their belongings while Mr Newcombe succeeded in saving the night's takings from the safe. Then, without warning, the flames suddenly burst through a corner of the roof. At around 1.15am the fire spread to the Theatre workshop, which was full of inflammable materials. At that point the roof of the Theatre collapsed.
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